Gnome's progress at the last 2 years is very slow. To me it feels that it stays behind, just like one time CDE stayed behind Windows, and another time that WindowMaker stayed behind KDE 2.0.

As I wrote in my blog, the only NEW things in the Gnome platform are random stuff that third party developers are proposing every now and then. There is not major new code coming from the main maintainers of the project. There is a huge list of things that need fixing or adding, and yet no one is working on them. For example, where is my Bluetooth INTEGRATED support? Where is the Sync support with mobile devices? Where is FULL resolution independence (not just SVGs)? Where is a *home* video editor that works (now part of both the desktops of Windows and OSX, not just third party apps). Where is the fix for gnome-panel's architecture so its applets don't eat so much RAM? Where are other Nautilus fixes and features? Where is backup functionality integrated for some Gnome apps (instead of a third party generic app)? Where are the preferences that make sense about input devices (3 applets for keyboards, come on!!). Where is the applet for mouse that also supports configuring touchpads? Where is Jabber support? Where is handwriting support? Where is API documentation that it's full and up to date? NOWHERE.

Remember, I am not talking about third party random apps. I am talking about important pieces of a modern desktop that need to COME by DEFAULT *integrated* with the desktop. Sure, there are 100 Jabber apps out there, but IMHO, one of them should come with Gnome and be maintained accordingly, because IM is part of a MODERN desktop. It is about offering to the OEMs a FULL SOLUTION, not bits and pieces. This is how Gnome must function, as a good modern source of a platform to OEMs and distros.

So, based on these NEEDS that I have as a user, and seeing how Gnome is progressing the last 2-3 years (slow, minor upgrades), I find the whole Gnome future DISAPPOINTING and UNexciting.

This is my first and LAST comment on the subject. I won't reply to any of the replies that will be fueled by this comment of mine.

I have a much bigger clue than you think I do. But you don't understand what I am talking about. I am talking about INTEGRATION. And in order to do real integration with a DESKTOP SYSTEM, then Gnome/KDE themselves must do this job, to tie a new feature or application with the REST OF THEIR SYSTEM.

This is NOT what an OEM does. This is what the source does (in this case Gnome/KDE). The OEMs simply put things together in a manner that the source allows them to do so, and strap a logo on top. That's not what I am talking about. I am not talking about "adding a jabber client to a random desktop". I am talking about integrating IM to the whole system. I am talking about integrating Bluetooth to the rest of the system.

And besides, adding resolution independence OR handwrite support it is NOT what an OEM/distro does, this is a job for Gnome/KDE themselves.

So, before you come out so rude and tell me that I don't have a clue, please read more carefully as to what I am talking about.

Sorry for not keeping my promise to not reply to this, but your reply was very rude and took the very "simplified" way out. Instead of combating what I AM REALLY talking about, you just came out with a kind of reply that makes you look like you are defensive and you are avoiding the real issue. The real issue is not about "adding an application to the platform", it's about ADDING AND BUILDING AROUND IT. There is a huge difference right there. The one is called OEM'ing (as you correctly stated), and the other one is called ENGINEERING. I am talking about engineering.

> I don't believe GNOME should have a video editor, bluetooth gadgets or Jabber client installed by default. If users need these tools, then they should install it themselves.

You are very wrong here. You are a geek. Geeks don't always want all that, but the point of the matter is, the years pass by and new users need more things. OSX is that great BECAUSE it has a good video editor, integrated AIM and Bluetooth. In fact, ESPECIALLY for Bluetooth, it NEEDS integration with the system, otherwise it just does not work well and usability sucks! Heck, even on Windows third party driver providers integrate their Bluetooth stack with MS Explorer! Integration is KEY for Bluetooth and many-many users NEED it. It's not 1999 anymore.

Eugenia's "argument" is a classic example of a Straw Man, plain and simple:

"Because this $DESKTOP lacks these non-third-party $FEATURES, its progress had slowed down!"

Instead of establishing a carefully selected set of criteria for determining a slow-down in development, she sets the avobe straw man up, tears it to shreds, and arrives at concusion she has reached before all this mess even started: GNOME's progress it slow.

As anyone can see, using this kind of "argumentation", one can accuse any desktop of slow development, its actual pace of development notwithstanding. For example: "Mac OS X development is slow because even today they lack a CAD development tool!" Or, "Windows Vista has been developed at a glacier pace 'cause they still don't have ProTools built-in!"

Such arguments look ridiculous, don't they? They do. Which brings me to my next point: Eugenia exacerbates the basic dishonesty of her Straw Man by naming $FEATURES the necessity of which on a modern desktop is rather disputable. Again, citing no presmisses and providing no valid evaluation criteria, she simply postulates these features as being "important pieces of a modern desktop that need to COME by DEFAULT *integrated* with the desktop". Bluetooth? Questionable. Mobile devices? Not all of us have them. Video editing? Too niched. And so on. Eugenia insists that a modern desktop needs all of these. Using her method -- that is, arguing without facts or logic -- I can insist as vehemently that it doesn't.

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"I won't reply to any of the replies that will be fueled by this comment of mine."

Ah, but that makes it so much easier to debunk that verbal tosh she's trying to pass for arguments. At least, she won't be posting lengthy Thom-style backpedaling articles.